Question 1

When sociologists write of shopping as a compensatory mechanism, they refer to the fact that it can compensate for:&#10;A) lowly social origins&#10;B) individual weaknesses and failings&#10;C) isolation and loneliness of modern life&#10;D) decreased importance of religion in modern life

Accepted Answer

Sociologists believe that shopping can compensate for the isolation and loneliness of modern life, as it allows individuals to fulfill a need for social interaction and the excitement of acquiring new possessions.

Question 2

Shopping has become the dominant form of consumption with the rise of:&#10;A) capitalism&#10;B) socialism&#10;C) globalization&#10;D) mechanical solidarity

Accepted Answer

A

Question 3

Which of the following consumer groups does the department store retail model rely on?&#10;A) Teenagers&#10;B) The elderly&#10;C) Men&#10;D) Women

Accepted Answer

The department store retail model relies heavily on women as its primary consumer group. Historically, these stores have been designed and marketed towards women, offering a wide range of products including clothing, accessories, cosmetics, and home goods. While teenagers, the elderly, and men may also shop at department stores, women are the primary demographic targeted by this retail model.

Question 4

In his 1927 book The Arcades Project, Benjamin argued that consumerism may have one of the following negative effects. Which one?&#10;A) Suppression of religious beliefs&#10;B) Suppression of political consciousness&#10;C) Suppression of consumer confidence&#10;D) Suppression of ethical standards

Accepted Answer

Benjamin argued that consumerism may suppress political consciousness by distracting individuals from the social and political issues that affect their lives. In a consumerist society, people may be more concerned with consuming goods and services than with engaging in political activism or advocating for social change. This can lead to a lack of awareness and engagement with important issues, effectively silencing dissent and opposition to the status quo.

Question 5

Which of the following retail models introduced open display as a way to encourage customers to desire goods they had not originally intended to buy?&#10;A) The arcade&#10;B) The farmers' market&#10;C) The department store&#10;D) The big box store

Accepted Answer

The department store introduced open display as a way to encourage customers to desire goods they had not originally intended to buy. The arcade refers to a covered passageway with shops on either side, the farmers' market is an open-air market for selling produce and other goods, and the big box store refers to large, warehouse-style retail stores. None of these models specifically introduced open display as a way to encourage unplanned purchases.

Question 6

An investor wishing to open a retail outlet has hired you as a consultant. Which of the following types of outlet would you recommend as a safe investment in a period of increasing social inequalities?

A) A dollar store
B) A department store
C) A designer clothing store
D) A gourmet food store

Accepted Answer

In a period of increasing social inequalities, consumers are more likely to look for affordable options. Dollar stores typically offer inexpensive products and therefore are more likely to attract customers who are trying to stretch their budgets. Additionally, dollar stores often have a wide variety of products which can appeal to a diverse customer base.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT usually a characteristic of gentrified urban areas?&#10;A) A combination of shopping, leisure and tourism&#10;B) Presence of working class residents&#10;C) Benefits to the local economy&#10;D) Increase in real estate prices

Accepted Answer

Gentrified urban areas often see the displacement of working class residents due to rising real estate prices and an influx of wealthier residents. Thus, the presence of working class residents is not usually a characteristic of gentrified areas.

Question 8

Which of the following is best explained by the rational choice model of human behavior?&#10;A) Abstaining from shopping out of environmental concerns&#10;B) Upscale emulation&#10;C) Shopping for luxury items&#10;D) Shopping at big box stores

Accepted Answer

The decision to shop at big box stores can be best explained by the rational choice model of human behavior, as individuals are making a logical decision to maximize their purchasing power and save money by shopping in bulk at these stores.

Question 9

The idea of consumer sovereignty is based on a specific understanding of the relationship between:&#10;A) the material and the cultural&#10;B) agency and structure&#10;C) micro- and macro-social&#10;D) the sacred and the profane

Accepted Answer

Consumer sovereignty posits that consumers have agency and the ability to make choices within a given market structure. This understanding highlights the interplay between individuals (agency) and societal structures (structure), as consumers are able to express their preferences within the constraints of the market.

Question 10

Which of the following did Durkheim conclude in his study of suicide?&#10;A) Strong social solidarity lowers suicide rates.&#10;B) Strong social solidarity is oppressive and increases suicide rates.&#10;C) Causes of suicide are individual and personal.&#10;D) Suicide rates decrease with age.

Accepted Answer

Durkheim concluded that strong social solidarity, or the degree to which individuals feel a sense of connection and belonging with their social group, is inversely related to suicide rates. In other words, the more socially connected and integrated individuals are, the lower the suicide rates. Durkheim argued that suicide is not just an individual act, but also a social phenomenon that can be influenced by social factors such as the level of social integration and regulation within a society.

Question 11

According to Durkheim, which of the following would be a social fact?&#10;A) Weakness of character that leads consumers into debt&#10;B) Individual consumer's cost-benefit analysis before a purchase&#10;C) A social norm to buy birthday presents for friends and family&#10;D) A shopping addiction

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Durkheim, which of the following...

Question 12

Which of the following communities is most likely to be characterized by mechanical solidarity?&#10;A) International jet-set&#10;B) Globally mobile managers of transnational corporations&#10;C) A suburb housing both middle-class and working-class residents&#10;D) A village where nearly all residents are farmers

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following communities is most...

Question 13

Mechanical solidarity is to organic solidarity as:&#10;A) cities are to countryside&#10;B) pre-industrial societies are to industrial societies&#10;C) industrialization is to urbanization&#10;D) capitalism is to industrialization

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mechanical solidarity is to organic solidarity as:&#10;A)...

Question 14

Beside data on individual opinions, focus groups are also suitable for gaining knowledge of:&#10;A) meaning-making&#10;B) confidence-building&#10;C) social solidarity&#10;D) stigmatization

Accepted Answer

The answer of Beside data on individual opinions, focus groups...

Question 15

In the 1990s, female youth violence was defined as a social problem in Canada, although its extent was very small. Which of the following is the most likely reason for its social construction as a problem?

A) Feminists claimed that female youth are no better than male
B) Issues concerning youth are always defined as problems
C) Powerful social groups supported this definition
D) Teachers used it to increase their occupational prestige

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the 1990s, female youth violence was...

Question 16

Why did the U.S. President tell the American public to &#34;go shopping&#34; the day after September 11, 2001?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why did the U.S. President tell the...

Question 17

Describe the rational choice model of human behavior. Can this model explain shopping behavior in our society fully?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the rational choice model of human...

Question 18

What is the connection between shopping and upward social mobility? Illustrate your answer with an example.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the connection between shopping and...

Question 19

Define organic solidarity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define organic solidarity....

Question 20

Define anomie. How is consumption in our society connected to it?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define anomie. How is consumption in our...

Question 21

Define social problems. Why might a feminist sociologist see shopping as a social problem?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define social problems. Why might a feminist...

Deck 5: Shopping Lessons: Consuming Social Order